Google’s newest flagship Android phone, the Nexus S, has just been officially announced. Google designed the handset in conjunction with Samsung to showcase the latest version of the Android operating system, known as Gingerbread.
Google-branded phones such as the Nexus S provide what Google calls a “pure Google” experience. Unlike Android phones sold by cellular carriers, Google’s Nexus phones don’t contain any additional carrier-centric software, are sold without a contract, and get access to the newest Android updates before any of the other phones on the market.
As far as specs go, the Nexus S features a 1GHz processor, 4-inch 800×480 Super AMOLED “Contour Display with curved glass screen,” front- and rear-facing cameras, built-in near field communication (NFC) chip, and compatibility with any GSM carrier (AT&T and T-Mobile here in the U.S.). (More on Techland: 18 Android Apps To Get You Started)
The Nexus S differentiates itself from other phones with the curved glass screen and NFC chip, in particular.
“The curved glass screen fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and along the side of your face,” according to Google.
The NFC chip allows the Nexus S to read information from “smart tags” as it’s wanded over other objects with NFC chips inside them. Google suggests “anything from stickers and movie posters to t-shirts,” while shying away from mentioning what many believe will ultimately be Android’s biggest use for NFC chips—contactless credit card-style payments at various retail stores.
The Nexus S will be available online and in Best Buy stores starting December 16th and will be sold either unlocked for $529 or subsidized through T-Mobile at $200 with a two-year contract.
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